Warriors look to get better during break

Even without playing a game this week, the Hawaii basketball team is looking to get better.

The Warriors last played on Feb. 5 – a road loss at Idaho. Their next game is scheduled for Feb. 14 – at home against Nevada. That means the Warriors have nine days to prepare for a Wolf Pack team that beat Hawaii by 17 points on Dec. 31 in Reno, Nev.

“Everybody’s a little banged up right now,” senior point guard Hiram Thompson said. “But its great to get rest and just heal up and get ready for the rest of the season coming up.”

Thompson is a good example. In addition to the numerous nagging injuries he has already endured this season, he returned from the road trip with six stitches near his right eyebrow after taking an elbow to the head in the opening minute of the Boise State road game. The stitches should be removed on Thursday.

Hawaii is 13-10 overall and in seventh place in the Western Athletic Conference at 4-7. Despite the loss at Idaho, the Warriors are still on an upward trend. Hawaii has won four of its last six WAC games after starting the season 0-5.

“We’re confident going into the rest of the season,” Thompson said.

Sophomore forward Trevor Wiseman missed the Boise State game so that he could stay in Honolulu and attend his classes. He met the team in Moscow, Idaho, the night before the Idaho game.

“That was a long trip,” said Wiseman, who traveled with video coordinator John Spruance. “We flew from Honolulu to Seattle and then to Spokane, and then we drove for, like, two hours from Spokane to (Moscow).”

But the travel inconvenience was apparently worth it, as Wiseman said he now has his academic progress back on track.

“I’m on top of everything now,” he said. “Everything’s looking good for this semester.”